Preformed orthodontic band



May 26, 1970 F. R. MILLER 3,513,545

PREFORMED ORTHODQNTIC BAND Filed Aug. 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Shee. 1

I N VEN TOR. Fri/n. :2 /1//7/@r May 26, 1970 F. R. MILLER 3,513,545

l PREFORMED oRTHoDoNTIc BAND Filed Aug. 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 `I NVEN TOR. Fra/n. :2. M//er WM w64 JMWT an ya? 3,513,545 PREFORMEDORTHODONTIC BAND Frank R. Miller, Bradbury, Calif., assiguor to OrmcoCorporation, Glendora, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 9,1968, Ser. No. 751,556

' Int. Cl. A61c 7/00 U.S. Cl. 32--14 14 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREAn improved construction for an orthodontic incisor, cuspid, bicuspid ormolar band is provided. The band of the present invention has relativelythin interproximal portions as compared with the thickness of theremainder of the band. The interproximal portions of the band arethinned, for example, by a grinding action which is accompanied by asimultaneous hardening of the metal in the band, so that no loss ofstrength is encountered. The thinned interproximal portions of the bandfacilitates the fitting of the band over the tooth, since unlike theprior art tooth bands, no substantial tooth separation is required.

Background of the invention It is usual for the orthodontist to :besupplied with a 4lrit of tooth bands which are used in conjunction withother orthodontic devices and attachments. The tooth bands are fittedonto the teeth of the patient on a trial and error basis. The bands mustbe ductile to permit them to be fitted exactly to the contours of theindividual tooth. For suicient strength and yet suicient ductility, thewalls of the tooth -bands in the prior art have a thickness of theorder, for example, of 3-6 mils.

The wall thickness of the prior art bands has created problems in theinterproximal area since substantial tooth separation is required whenthe prior art bands are fitted into the mouth of the patient. Thisiitting can be painful, and the large wall thickness also results in asubstantial space between the teeth which must be closed after the bandshave been removed. However, prior to the present invention, any attemptto provide a thinner band, especially for the molars, has resulted in aconcomitant loss in strength of the band, which could not be tolerated.

In the practice of the present invention, however, the interpoximal ormesal and distal sides of the band are thinned, this being achieved by amild grinding action, for example, by the machine described in thecopending application Ser. No. 751,555, filed Aug. 9, 1968. Theresulting thinning of the band in these areas is accompanied by asimultaneous hardening of the metal in the band at the areas beingground, so that no loss in strength is encountered. This work-hardeningeffect is particularly pronounced when stainless steel is used as thematerial to constitute the band. Although there is a loss in ductilityin the work-hardened areas of the band, the remaining portions which areunaffected by the grinding action provide the required ductility so asto permit the band to be fitted onto the tooth of the patient.

In the case of the molar bands, the upper or occlusal edge of thethinned parts of the band is usually left in its original dimensions, soas to provide the orthodonist with a strong non-cutting edge to permithim to push the band down over the tooth without crumpling or bendingthe edge. Other bands, such as anterior bands may have the thinned areasextending from edge to edge. Alternately, the thinned areas may belimited to the central parts of the band, as will be described.

Therefore, the bands of the present invention, having theirinterproximal portions thinned, are advantageous in United States Patentthat there is less total space between the teeth to close after thebands have been removed. Moreover, the application of the bands of theinvention is less painful since there is less initial separation of theteeth required. This latter factor often results in less work for theorthodontist since, in many instances, the initial tooth separation stepmay be eliminated. Also, the use of the bands of the invention resultsin fewer problems of tooth relapse and rotation, as well as in greaterpatient comfort.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atypical pre-formed molar band which may be treated in accordance withthe concepts of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pre-formed molar band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing the band thinnedacross part of its interproximal portions in accordance with theconcepts of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a typical pre-formed anterior band treated inaccordance with the concepts of the invention, with thinning in theinterproximal portions extending from the lower edge to the upper edgeof the band;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the band of FIG. 4, partly in section, andshowing the band treated in accordance with the concepts of theinvention with its interpoximal portions thinned; and

FIG. 6 is a side View, partly in section, of an anterior band similar tothe band of FIG. 5, but thinned in an area in the center of the proximalportions leaving the incisal and gingival edges of the band with theiroriginal thicknesses for maximum resistance to ciumpling.

Detailed description of the tooth band The tooth band shown in FIGS.1-3, as mentioned above, is a pre-formed molar band. The band isdesignated 10, for example, and, as shown, includes a distal side, amesal side, a buccal side, and a lingual side. When itted into the mouthof the patient, for example, the buccal side is to the outside and thelingual side is to the inside. The distal and mesal sides constitute theinterproximal portions of the band. The tooth band also includes anupper edge, designated the occlusal edge, and a lower edge designatedthe gingival edge.

In the practice of the present invention, and as best shown in FIG. 3,the mesal and distal sides are thinned by an abrading action. In thecase of the illustrated molar band, the occlusal edge is not thinned, soas to provide a surface for the orthodontist to force the band down overthe tooth and having sui'licient edge strength to resist crumpling orbending.

As mentioned above, a grinding action such as described in theaforementioned copending application, produces a simultaneous hardeningof the metal in the band in the affected areas, especially when amaterial such as stainless steel is used, so that there is no overallloss in strength of the band. Moreover, the ductility of the remainderof the band is sulicient so that the bands may be fitted onto the tooth,as easily as the prior art bands, and with the aforesaid advantages dueto the thinning in the interproximal portions.

As mentioned above, this thinning of the interproximal portions of theband are advantageous Abecause the fitting of the bands to the teeth ofthe patient is less painful and requires less work for the orthodontist.Also, the use of the lbands of the invention results in less total spacebetween the teeth to close after the bands have been removed, and fewerproblems of tooth relapse and tooth rotation.

The anterior tooth band shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is designated '12, and,as shown, includes a distal side, a mesial side, a labial side and alingual side. When the latter band is tted onto a tooth of the patient,for example, the labial side is to the front and the lingual side is tothe rear, and the distal and mesial sides form the interproximalportions of the band.

The tooth band of FIGS. 4 and 5 also includes an upper edge, designatedthe incisal edge and a lower edge designated the gingival edge. In thepractice of the invention in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the mesialand distal sides, that is the interproximal portions, are thinned by anabrading or grinding action; with the thinning extending approximatelyone-third the entire width of the band from the incisal edge to thegingival edge, its center being positioned such as to provide thethinnest point at the interproximal contact.

As mentioned, the metal used in the band is one, such as stainlesssteel, which becomes work-hardened during the grinding action.Therefore, the grinding action which thins the band at the designatedplaces simultaneously produces a hardening of the metal in the band inthe affected areas. This assures that there is no overall loss in thestrength of the band. Moreover, and as mentioned above, the ductility ofthe remainder of the band is suf ficient so that the band may be fittedonto the tooh, as easily as the prior art bands.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, an anterior band is shown in a view similarto the view of FIG. 5, the latter band being designated 14. In the bandof FIG. 6, the thinning action is limited to an area at theinterproximal contact points of the band, leaving the incisal andgingival edges with their original thickness. The band of FIG. 6 isparticularly configured so as to exhibit sufiicient edge strength toresist bending of the sides of the band when it is moved into place downover the tooth of the patient.

Therefore, while the invention has been described in one of its aspects,other equivalent aspects may be practiced without departing from thespirit thereof. The following claims are intended to cover the variousaspects of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An orthodontic tooth band for encircling a tooth, formed of a ductilemetallic material and having buccal, distal, lingual and mesial sides,and having occlusal and gingival edges, at least parts of the distal andmesial sides of said band being thinner than the lingual and buccalsides thereof.

2. The band defined in claim 1 in which said mesial and distal sides ofsaid band are harder than said buccal and lingual sides thereof.

3. The band defined in claim 1 in which the thickness of said occlusaledge of said band is essentially uniform around the periphery thereofand substantially that of said buccal and lingual sides thereof.

4. The orthodontic tooth -band defined in claim 1 in which the thindistal and mesial sides thereof extend with a substantially uniformthickness from the occlusal to the gingival edges, said uniformthickness being thinner than the thickness of the lingual and buccalsides thereof.

S. The band defined in claim 1 in which the thickness of said occlusaledge of said band and of said gingival edge thereof are essentiallyuniform around the periphery of the band and substantially that of saidbuccal and lingual sides thereof.

6. An orthodontic band for encircling a tooth, having a proximalportion, and configured so that at least part of said proximal portionof said band is thinner than the remaining portions thereof.

7. The orthodontic tooth band of claim 6 in which the thinner dimensionof said proximal portion extends across the width of said band from thetop edge to the bottom edge of said band.

8. The orthodontic tooth band defined in claim 6 in which said thinnerproximal portion has an increased thickness adjacent the upper edge ofsaid band corresponding to the thickness of the remaining portions ofsaid band.

9. The band defined in claim 6 in which said proximal portion has anincreased thickness at both the upper and lower edges of said bandcorresponding to the thickness of the remaining portions of said band.

10. An orthodontic tooth band for encircling a tooth, said band beingformed of a ductile metallic material having buccal, distal, lingual andmesial sides, and having occlusal and gingival edges, in which thethickness of said occlusal edge of said band is essentially uniformaround the periphery thereof and is substantially that of said buccaland lingual sides thereof, and parts of said distal and mesial sides ofsaid band displaced down from said occlusal edge thereof being thinnerthan the lingual and buccal sides thereof.

11. The band defined in claim 10, in which said mesial and distal sidesof said band are harder than said buccal and lingual sides thereof.

12. The band defined in claim 10 in which the thickness of said occlusaledge of said band and of said gingival edge thereof are essentiallyuniform around the periphery of the band and substantially that of saidbuccal and lingual sides thereof.

13. An orthodontic band for encircling a tooth, having a proximalportion, said band being configured so that at least a part of saidproximal portion thereof is thinner than the remaining portion thereof,and in which said thinner proximal portion of said band has an increasedthickness adjacent the upper edge of said band corresponding to thethickness of the remaining portions of said band.

14. The band defined in claim 13, in which said proximal portion has anincreased thickness at both the upper and lower edges of said bandcorresponding to the thickness of the remaining portions of said band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,114 11/1916 Angle 32-141,794,213 2/1931 Spahn 32--14 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner

